COLLINSVILLE, Ill. - The ability to spot a horse in Chicago who will fit on the southern Illinois circuit is a necessity for most local trainers. Last week, four horses who were claimed in Chicago won here.

Eddie Essenpreis took Will Be a Bates for $15,000 on April 7 at Sportsman's, and in her second local start he scored an allowance victory under Cindy Medina.

Bill Hickam spent $6,000 on Esther Egg on May 31, and last Saturday night he earned $8,400 by winning a three-other-than allowance in his first local start. It was the fifth consecutive win for Esther Egg.

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Peppy Mint heads a field of 10 Michigan-bred 3-year-old colts and geldings in the $45,000 Lansing Stakes on Friday at Great Lakes Downs.

Peppy Mint has won both of his starts this year. On May 25, he scored by 3 1/4 lengths in allowance company at 5 1/2 furlongs. His top rival is Spring Winds, who faced Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero War Emblem in March at Sportsman's Park and who won two stakes here last year.

Three decades ago, Jerry Fishback was North America's champion steeplechase rider, capturing the title in 1971, 1973-75, and 1977-78. He made a rare appearance at Penn National Race Course on June 1 as the trainer of the 4-year-old filly Sandy Hook.

ALTOONA, Iowa - With less than a month left in the 53-day meeting, a good battle is developing for the training title. Stanley Roberts, the leading trainer here last year, and Don Von Hemel are tied for the lead with 17 victories. Ray Tracy Jr. is one back in third position, with Roger Engel two wins behind the leaders in fourth through Monday's action.

ALTOONA, Iowa - Seven 3-year-old fillies headed by Hi Tech Honeycomb and Vicki Vallencourt are set to go in Friday night's one-mile Panthers Stakes at Prairie Meadows.

Hi Tech Honeycomb enters the Panthers, a $60,000 race, off a fast-closing second-place finish on the turf in a $65,000 allowance race at a mile, May 25 at Churchill Downs.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Key Lory, winner of the Grade 3 Red Bank Handicap in his last start and undefeated in four turf races, will skip Saturday's Grade 3 Oceanport at Monmouth Park and train right up to the Grade 1 United Nations on July 6, trainer Dennis Manning reported Wednesday.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Texas Heat is the one to beat in Friday's featured sixth race, an optional claimer for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

Texas Heat finished second at this level in her local debut despite getting into trouble while racing along the rail. Trained by Clayton Gray, she should be near the front early after breaking from post 3 under Manuel Alicea.

Cayenne Pepper and Dawn Edition also should battle for the early lead.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Roger Attfield sent out his seventh Queen's Plate winner in 1995, when Regal Discovery found the quickest route home for No. 1 Stable.

That Plate success also was the trainer's sixth in nine years. He saddled his first Plate winner, Norcliffe, in 1976.

But Attfield's quest for his eighth Plate, which would equal the record held by trainer Harry Giddings Jr., has been relatively quiet in recent years.

ELMONT, N.Y. - A Triple Crown season that began on a sour note for jockey Edgar Prado ended ever so sweetly Saturday when he guided longshot Sarava to the biggest upset in Belmont Stakes history.

It was the first classic victory for the Peruvian-born Prado, who had dominated the Maryland circuit in the 1990's and was this country's leading rider from 1997-99.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - B. Wayne Hughes returned to the Kentucky Derby this year hoping to win the race before the Derby - just like he did in 1998, when his Joyeux Danseur romped to victory in the Early Times Turf Classic.

But although Climate, competing in Hughes's orange-and-purple silks, beat a steady fade as Beat Hollow captured the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (formerly the Early Times), the afternoon wasn't a total loss for Hughes: He watched happily as Tricky Indy won the last race of the Derby Day card, crushing entry-level allowance rivals under Pat Day.